Apprenticeship numbers drop

Press, 9 March 1982, Page 15

Apprenticeship numbers drop

PA Wellington Building and construction industry apprenticeships increased 5 per cent last year compared with 1980, reversing a decline since the early 19705. Over all, however, the total number of apprentices in New Zealand declined. The number of those starting trade training, including heavy engineering, reached almost 2900. This almost matches the 1979 intake, but is far short of the 5200-plus of 1974. Last year was also marked by an increase in apprentices completing training, up 7 per cent to almost 3000, but short of the 3800-plus peak in 1978. The latest figures from the

Building Industry Advisory Council show that total apprentices in the work-force continued to decline, dropping 5 per cent last year to almost 110,700, about twothirds below the 1974 level. The industry decline over the last 12 months included a 14 per cent drop in numbers of apprentice carpenters, a 19 .per cent drop in the number of bricklayers, and a 16 per cent drop for plumbers and gas fitters. But there was also a 5 per cent rise in the fitting and welding trades, a 21 per cent increase in the timber industry, and a 25 per cent rise in engineering draughting, reversing the declines since the late 19705.